Pencil



F. J. KRISTOFEK AND H. L. FISCHER.

PENCIL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY7. 191s.

Patented Sept. 7, 1920.

N I a 0 77 I a rear end of the body portion and the magazine means for holding UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK J. KRISTOFEK AND HOWARD L. FISCHER, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

PENCIL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. '7, 1920.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK J. KRISTOFEK and HOWARD L. FISCHER, citizens of the United States, residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pencils, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to pencils and is particularly adapted to the use of a very fine marking lead which does not require sharpening, due to its small diameter.

The primary object is a pencil having the fine marking lead in writing position in the forward end of the barrel by the use of a very simple construction.

, The marking lead held in writing position in our pencil is ejected by a mechanism which is similar in construction to that illustrated in our application Serial No. 199,234.

In the drawing forming part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of our pencil illustrated partially in longitudinal cross section.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the ejecting mechanism and magazine removed from the pencil barrel.

. Fig. 3is a perspective view of a portion of the ejecting mechanism.

, Fig. 4 is a plan viewof a detail portion of the pencil.

Fig. 5 is a cross section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal cross sectionof a detail portion of an alternative construction.

In the drawing A represents a pencil having a conical forward end 1 which is formed with a thin tubular body portion 2. The 2 is enlarged at 3 and is adapted to detachably receive a cap or head portion 4. The cap 4 is slidably held to the portion 3 by means. of the detent 5 formed in the portion 3 which engages in the groove 6 formed in the forward end of the cap portion. a

The cap 4 is adapted to removably hold the ejecting mechanism B and magazine C in the pencil barrel 2. The ejecting mechanism B is inclosed in a tubular housing 7 C-for extra leads is slidably held in the pear end of the tubular housing 7. A coil spring 8 is interposed between the forward closed end 9 of the magazine C and a washer 10 held in the housing 7 by means of the inturned ears 11, the co1 l spring 8 being adapted to hold the magazine C in outer position inthe housing 7.

- The gages against the collar 12 which is rigidly fixed in the barrel 2 in any suitable manner and when the ejecting mechanism B and magazlne C are placed in the housing 2 and the cap 415 in position as illustrated in forward end of the housing 7 'en- Fig. 1, the spring 8 will be slightly compressed, forcing the forward end of the housing 7 against the collar 12 and holdin the ejecting mechanism B and magazine 5 under spring tension in the pencil barrel 2. In this manner the ejecting mechanism with its housing and the magazine for extra leads are held firmly against rattling in the pencil casing or barrel 2 and the cap 4 is held under spring tension in outer position.

A ratch housing 7 with its outer edge 14 engaging in the longitudinally extending groove 15 formed in the housing 7 and is formed with teeth 16 along its inner edge. A spring finger 17 is formed integral with the ratch 13 and is bent to bear against the inner surface of the housing 7 diametrically opposite to the ratch teeth to hold the ratch linder spring tension in set position in the housin 7. An engaging pawl 18, having one end rigidly secured at 19 to the end 9 of the magazine C extends through the spring 8 and through the opening 20 in the washer 10 with its forward end 21 curved upwardly so as to engage the teeth 16.

' The housing 7 is formed with an inwardly projecting portion 22 which lies directly in front, and in the path of travel of the forward end 21 of the pawl 18. The pawl 18 is formed of spring material and presses outwardly so as to normally engage the teeth of the ratch under spring tension.

When the cap 4 is depressed the pawl 18 will be pushed forward pushing the ratch 13 forward the space of one tooth 16 and the end 21 will then engage against the inwardly projecting portion or lug 22 and depress the pawl 18 out of engagement with the teeth 16, thus allowing the pawl 18 to push the ratch forward one tooth at a time and holding it outof engagement with the teeth of the ratch when the cap 4 is fully depressed. The inner portion of the groove 6 formed on the cap 4 allows the cap to be depressed in- 13 is slidably positioned in thewardly the desired amount to push the ratch forward one tooth at a time and to release the and the forward end of the finger is formed with a collar or socket portion 25 which is adapted to receive amarking lead 26 of small diameter. The finger 23 is formed of spring material having its body portion formed U shaped as illustrated in Fig. 5 and the socket 25 is.sufliciently resilient so as to expand when the end of the lead 26 is inserted therein and thus tightly grip the same. The socket or band 25 is formed with an open slot 27 which allows a suitable instrument to be inserted back of the lead and pushed through the band longitudinally to eject any portion of an old marking lead in the band or socket. The band 25 is approximately cylindrical in shape and the forward ends 28 of the U shaped body portion of the member 23 are adapted to form a stop or an abutment for the marking lead 26 when it is inserted in the socket 25.

The forward end of the housing 7 is closed by the washer 29 to inclose the ejecting mechanism .and the washer is formed with an opening 30 through which the finger 23 projects and freely slides when the ejecting mechanism is operated. The forward end of the conical portion is formed with an axial opening 31, which extends through the apex of the same and which is approximately of the same diameter as the outer diameter of the lead 26 so as to firmly hold the mark- 1 ing lead, which is adapted to be ejected through the opening 31 by the ejecting mechanism.

In the operation of the pencil A the ejecting mechanism B and magazine C are removed from the pencil barrel 2 and the ejecting mechanism B is set with the lead holding finger in backward position, as illustrated in Fig. 2. A new marking lead is then taken from the magazine by removing the cap 32 and inserted in the socket 25. The ejecting mechanism B is then inserted in the pencil barrel 2 and the cap 4 is placed in position. The smooth conical inner surface of the forward end will freely guide the forward end of the marking lead 26 into the opening 31 and by depressing the cap 4 the ejecting mechanism will eject the lead 26 a step at a time through the opening 31 as it is worn off. If it is desired to push the lead 26 back into the pencil it is only necessary to depress the cap 4 as far as possible, releasing the ratch, whereupon the lead 26 can be easily pushed back in the pencil A. In forming the pencil barrel A with a conical end 1, the swaging of the same will cause the apex of the conical portion 1 to become heavier than the side walls of the same and thus form sufficient thickness of metal to give the required strength at the apex of the portion 1 and to the walls of the opening 31.' The smooth hollow inner surface of the conical end 1 is a verydesirable feature of the pencil A, as the lead 26 will be easily guided into the opening 31 and if the encil should be dropped on its point when the lead 26 is projecting from the same,the breaking of the lead will not allow it to be crushed and thus clog theopening 31, but will allow it to break ofl' on the outside of the pencil barrel and also on the inside of the conical portion 1. The portion of the lead which remains in the opening 31 can be easily ejected by a new marking lead, the hollow conical end thus protecting the pencil from becoming accidentally inoperative, and preventing the clogging of the writing end of the same. The hollow conical end also simplifies the construction ofthe pencil A which is a desirable feature.

lVhen the lead 26 has become used up a short portion of lead still remains projecting from the socket 25 which will not be projected through the opening 31. By removing the mechanism B and the magazine C the portion remaining in the socket 25 can be removed and a new marking lead inserted in the finger 23, when the latter as in Fig. 2 has been placed in backward position, thus allowing the lead to be held firmly while it is being inserted in thepencil barrel 2 and insuring placing it in the proper position in breaking the lead while it is being inserted.

The finger 23 is rigidly secured to the ratch 13 on its rear end at 24 in any suitable manner such as welding or riveting so that the finger 23 will extend centrally from the forward end of the ratch 13 and thereby hold the lead 26 in a central position when theiejecting mechanism is being inserted into the pencil barrel. The lead 26 is supported on its forward end in the opening 31 at the apex of the conical portion 1 and on its rear end in the socket 25 which also forms an abutment for the lead to hold it against backward movement when in use.

The construction shown inFig. 6 illustrates the finger 23 with an ejecting spring finger 35 rigidly attached at its rear end at 36 to the ratch portion 13. The spring finger 35 is formed with a laterally bent forward end tion as illustrated in Fig. 6 in full lines. When it is desired to eject the unused portion of the marking lead 26 remaining in the socket 25, it is only necessary to depress the spring finger 35 into the position, illustrated in dotted outline in Fig. 6, thus straightening the finger 35 and lengthening it sufiiciently to cause the end 37 to extend through the socket 25, thereby ejecting the unused 10 lead therefrom. The finger 35 is adapted to be positioned between the sides 38 and 39 of the U-shaped portion of the finger 23 and is curved upwardly sufiiciently to give it the proper length to extend through the socket 25 when it is straightened by depression as illustrated in dotted outline in Fig: 6.

The construction of the lead holding finger 23 illustrated in Fig. 6 is such that the lead is held in the socket 25 with its rear end abutting against the shoulder 37 formed on the outer free end of the spring member 35, which forms a resilient abutment for the lead. The resiliency of the member 35 allows the abutting member or shoulder 37 to slide backward if a severe or sharp jar is struck on the outer end of the marking lead 26 when it is held'in the collar 25, this resiliency of the member 35 will protect the lead 26 in many instances from breaking if 30 the pencil A is dropped so as to strike squarely on its marking end or on the projecting end of the lead 26 and in this manner the marking lead is not broken but is allowed to slide back in the collar .25 raising the spring member 35, which will again force the lead forward into normal position in the collar 25 after the pressure of the jar or blow is released from the outer end of the lead. The member 35 is sufi'iciently rigid to ID hold the lead in writing position against ordinary writing pressure, thus preventing the lead from slipping backward in the jaw or collar 25 when the pencil A is in use. In this manner the. spring member 35 performs two functions, one to eject the old or remaining portion of the marking lead in the collar 25 and the other to take any sharp jar or blow from the marking lead 26, thus giving features which are very desirable in a pencil of this nature. y

In accordance with the patent statutes, w

have described the principles of operation of our invention, together with the apparatus which we now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but we desire to have it understood that the construction shown is only illustrative and that the inven-" tion can be carried out by other means and 4 the marking lead in writing position in said pencil.

2. In a pencil of the class described, having a barrel portion formed of thin tubing, a conical shaped forward end formed on said barrel, an ejecting means removably held in said barrel, a finger slidably held in said ejecting means, means formed on the outer end of a finger for holding the rear end of said marking lead and means in said finger forming a resilient abutment for said marking lead, for the purposes specified.

3. In a pencil of the class described, having a barrel portion formed of tubing, a conical shaped hollow forward end formed on said barrel, an opening formed through the apex of said conical end, a removable lead ejecting means adapted to be held under spring tension in said barrel, a lead holding finger slidably held in said ejecting means, a socket formed on the outer end of said finger and'means in said finger forming an abutment for the lead held in said socket and for ejecting said lead from said socket substantially as described.

4. In a pencil having a barrel portion formed of thin tubing, a conical shaped forward end, an opening formed longitudinally through apex of said conical end, ejecting means removably held in said barrel, a lead holding finger connected to said ejecting means and means in said finger forming a resilient abutment and ejecting means for said marking lead.

5. In a pencil of the class described having a barrel portion formed of thin tubing, a conical shaped forward end formed on i said barrel, an ejecting mechanism adapted to eject a lead a degree at a time by pressing on the head of said pencil, a lead supporting finger slidably projecting from said ejecting mechanism for holding a lead with its body portion unsupported so as to be ejected out of the writing end of said pencil and a resili ent abutment for said marking lead.

FRANK J. KRISTOFEK. HOWARD L. FISCHER. 

